In a significant strategic shift, investment giant Vanguard has announced it will permit trading of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on its brokerage platform. The move ends the firm’s longstanding policy of restricting access to cryptocurrency-related investment products for its clients. While specific fund approvals are pending, the decision is expected to include major offerings from providers like BlackRock and Fidelity. This pivot aligns Vanguard with other major brokerage firms that have embraced the new wave of spot crypto ETFs approved by U.S. regulators earlier this year. The policy change reflects evolving institutional acceptance of digital assets as a legitimate component of diversified portfolios, responding to sustained client demand for regulated exposure to the asset class. Vanguard will maintain its prohibition on direct cryptocurrency trading, focusing solely on the ETF wrapper. The firm emphasized that its own suite of mutual funds and ETFs will not incorporate direct crypto holdings, preserving its traditional investment philosophy while expanding client choice on its brokerage platform.
